Quite often, while showing homes to prospective buyers, I show a vacant home and notice quite a few mistakes made in the presentation of the home. Here are my thoughts on the best way to market a vacant home:
- Thoroughly clean the house upon moving out and then keep the house clean.
- Maintain the yard as well as when the home was occupied.
- Do touch-up painting and sheetrock repairs upon moving out, especially picture hanger holes.
- Clean the carpet upon moving out, if needed.
- Close indoor valves to outdoor water spigots.
- Keep utility services (gas, electric, water) turned on.
- Turn off the hot water heater.
- Maintain comfortable indoor temperature:
- Winter - set heat at 60 - 65 degrees
- Summer - set A/C at 78 - 80 degrees
- Identify any dark areas by going through the home on an overcast day with all of the lights turned off. In each dark area, make sure an easily located light switch turns on a light, otherwise put a lamp on a timer.
- In every room, make sure the light switch by the door does operate a light. Otherwise, provide a lamp.
- Keep all window blinds wide open.
- Replace any worn or objectionable carpet, as it is easiest at this time.
- Repaint any objectionable colors, as it is easiest at this time.
- Repaint the finished garage if it needs it.
- Showing instructions in MLS will be changed to "vacant, lockbox" which means the home can be shown anytime without a courtesy call.
- Keep your listing agent advised of how to reach you whenever you will not be home for 24 hours or longer.
- Your listing agent will continue to follow up on showings (based on Internet records of lockbox operation) and will provide you with feedback from agents who have shown your home.
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